Fascinating Facts About Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon with a very picturesque backdrop. The walls of the canyon are about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) apart, and the entire canyon is about 35 to 40 meters (115-131 feet) tall. Antelope Canyon is a top-rated destination for tourists. Its popularity is the reason why tourists are limited to a time slot of two hours for visiting any one of its two unique locations.

Just as the San Francisco walking tour is a complete sightseeing tour of a city, Antelope Canyon is an absolute wonder of nature. The canyon is named after the herds of antelope that once wandered in this locale. Fluid colors on walls of the canyon have been formed by rainwater collecting and seeping through the basin. As time passed by, the canyon was carved deeper by the water passing through it. The water also smoothed the edges.

Antelope Canyon Location

Antelope Canyon is situated a couple of miles East from Page, Arizona. On one side of Route 98 is Upper Antelope Canyon and on the other side of Route 98 is Lower Antelope Canyon. The location is the place where one of the famous Windows XP desktop background photos originates. This picturesque location with its organic colors and hues is a renowned hotspot for photographers.

Antelope Canyon is situated close to the border between Utah and Arizona. The location is similar to Havasu Falls with red rock canyons carved by flowing water. The best part about this location is that tourists can choose to stay on either side of the border. There are hotels in Utah in the city Kanab, and there are also hotels in Page, Arizona. Kanab also has another natural wonder known as The Wave.

What time of the Year Is Ideal?

Starting from March 20 tourists can view the light beams which shine down through the slot. These sunbeams will be visible until early October. Some of the most preferred timings for viewing these rays of light are in June, July, and August. On a sunny day at midday, or timings between 11 am, and 2 pm these light beams are especially conspicuous. On a cloudy day, they are not so easy to view.

Between April to September is when the place is the most crowded. June, July, August are the busiest months. Even in the winter, snow is a rare occurrence. The winter months, from October to February, the place is not so crowded. For weather information, you can find more details about the weather for Page, Arizona Climate Details. You even switch between °C and °F.

Is it Safe for Children?

Are you thinking about bringing kids and wondering if it is safe? Wondering which is a better location to take your baby or toddler with you, the Upper Canyon or the Lower Canyon? Keep in mind there will be no stores for food, water, and no restrooms at the canyon. Tourists are usually not allowed heavy backpacks or travel bags.

If you have an older child, it might be easier for them to climb up and down the stairs in the Lower Canyon. There are tour companies who do not allow children at all. There are some tour guides which provide car seats for children between the ages of three to seven years old. Other companies require you to bring your own car seat. Make sure you find out specifically from your tour guide if you are allowed to have children.

Are Cameras Allowed?

You have the latest photography equipment, including the unipods and the tripods to catch the perfect shot, but it will all be a waste if they don’t allow photography. So can you take pictures as you please? The answer is both yes and no. When you come to Antelope Canyon, you will either be on a general tour or a photography tour.

If you are on a general tour, which is cheaper, you will not get much time to take photos because the tour keeps moving. On a general tour, you cannot use a unipod or a tripod. On a photography tour, you have the liberty to set up your equipment and take a picture of the perfect shot. The sunbeams are visible mostly in the Upper Canyon. The Lower Canyon does get sunbeams, but it is a much less frequent sight.

How Did Antelope Canyon Come Into Existence?

Fast-flowing waters from flash floods created the steep vertical walls of the Antelope Canyon. The water could have accumulated in a nearby geographical location due to rain. As the water was flowing from a higher place to lower ground, it picked up pieces of dirt, rock, sand, and wood which carved these intricate designs in the sand. These pieces, combined with the strength of the water flowing downwards, cut intricate patterns into the sand.

The Navajo have a deep respect for Antelope Canyon. Here is a place where flash floods can take place and be very dangerous. Antelope Canyon has backup ropes and ladders in case an emergency evacuation is necessary. The best times to visit Antelope Canyon are during the day and between April to August.

Facts About Upper Antelope Canyon (The Crack)

The Upper Canyon is more frequented by tourists than the Lower Canyon. The Native Navajo people refer to the Upper Canyon as “Tse’bighanilini,” which translates as, “The place where water runs through rocks.” The highest position of the Upper Canyon is at an elevation of approximately 1,353.67 meters above sea level. The crack in the Upper Canyon goes down to about 37 meters.

There are more tours to the Upper Canyon because it is entirely approachable from ground level. This approachability means you do not need to use any stairs to view the Upper Canyon. Between 11 am and 2 pm, is the best time to see the rays of light. Viewing the Upper Canyon is less strenuous. Two hours is the maximum time any tour guide will give you to view the area. The tours to the Upper Canyon are a little more expensive.

Facts About Lower Antelope Canyon (The Corkscrew)

The entrance to the Lower Antelope Canyon is much more challenging. Depending on the exact location you choose to visit, there can be multiple drops to maneuver using ladders and or staircases. The temperature is cooler once you are inside the Lower Canyon. If you have photography equipment, consider bringing minimum paraphernalia because there will be tight bends and curves in the walking path.

Also consider bringing something to wipe your camera lens, as it can get dusty. It is easier to get a booking for the Lower Canyon because not everybody is ready to brave the strenuous path. There is no room to sit, and the hallways are too tight let any stroller or wheelchair to pass through. The Lower Canyon is known as “Hasdestwazí” by the Navajo Natives, which translates as “Spiral Rock Arches.”

Author Bio: Liza Brooke is a single mother and a passionate blogger. She loves to get herself updated with latest trends. Currently, she is working as a Content Writer at Crowd Writer.

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Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman, and together we are Coleman Concierge. It is our goal to inspire you to get out, expand your world, and to seek adventure, even in your own backyard.

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